Eye contact with a Rooster?

[CrazyForCochins927]

I recently found out that we have a rooster and I am still trying to figure out how to act by him. I want him to know that I am the "top rooster", but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to make eye contact with him. He seems to like to come up to me and look me straight in the eye, but I have heard not to look them straight in the eye, similar to a dog. Also, if I am sitting on the ground, my hens (I have 7) like to come and sit on me and look at me. They don't seem like they are trying to be dominant, just curious? Thanks for everyone's input!!

 

[DTchickens]

I treat my roosters just like any other chickens. Simply as I can put it. "Don't look them in the eye" is hogwash in my opinion, I don't suggest it due to a possibility of him thinking "That looks tasty!" like some people have had happen (from hens for sure), but it isn't going to make him aggressive. A bird is either aggressive or isn't in my opinion, if he shows aggression, correct it. There are methods on that, some suggest beating them while I go with the gentle/handling method (I raise games, so showing aggression back hardly helps, I say it makes matters worse a lot of the times, but luckily I have hardly had any aggressive birds towards people.)

I think sometimes people put a little too much thought into them in that area.

-Daniel

 

[mulewagon]

It doesn't hurt to let the hens come up to you, but I would sit on a slightly higher level. Eventually they'll try to find out what you taste like, and you don't want them pecking your face.

Personally, I make the roosters keep their distance, just by shaking things in their faces and walking at them. Nothing violent, I just trained them to stay about three feet away from me. You don't have be dramatic to be the boss rooster, just firm and consistent. (I don't think eye contact matters much, since they're usually looking at your kneecap anyway!)

 

[Lbrad7]

When you avoid eye contact with them you are being submissive and they feel dominant. I treat them like any other hen and if they get aggressive with me I chase them like my dominate roo does when he gives them their daily attitude adjustment. NEVER back away from him it will only give him more confidence in attacking you.

Good luck to you. Hope you can keep him in line. If you do, its really nice to keep a roo on the lot to protect your hens...but only if he is well behaved.

 

[Yazzo]

It is FINE to make eye contact with them, especially once you have learned how to behave around roosters. I could write a ton about that, but I think it's better if I just redirect you to this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=63850-the-definite-guide-to-roosters

 

[gryeyes]

Huh. Not make eye contact with a rooster? How odd. All my companion animals - even the egg-laying and crowing ones who live outside in coops - make eye contact with me on a regular basis. It's the BEHAVIOR I worry about, not the eye contact.

I never back down with a rooster, even the little banty ones who prance up to me and flap a wing at my calves. I treat them firmly, but gently, by walking towards 'em until THEY "give up" and turn away.

When my LF EE rooster gets a little uppity every couple of months or so, and dives at my legs, I just pick him up and carry him around for a while, tucked under my arm. He looks around with interest, and doesn't fight to get away. And when I put him down, I make sure to gently apply pressure to make him "squat" before I let him go. He's very good for another couple of months.

One of the Sebright boys took on one of my guests, and I told her to walk at him... Really surprised because I've only had a single wing flap from each of them; walking towards 'em until they gave up ended that practice of theirs. But my friend must not have walked with authority, or sumpin' 'cause George kept charging her. He'd back up, then advance again. She said, "He's not giving up!"

It takes patience. But I finally walked over and he turned tail and RAN away. Guess my friend is one of MY "hens!"

 

[CrazyForCochins927]

Quote:

 

[Desert Rooster]

Especially if its a cockatrice, DO NOT make eye contact

 

[geebs]

Carry shake n bake.. They will stand back away from the box... LOL